Robert h



(No Model.)

12;. H. LITTLE. COIN GONTROLLED LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS.

No. 434,395. Patented Aug. 12, 1890.

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ROBERT H. LITTLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO HENRY H. HEIMERDINGER AND ISAAC MEYER, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

COIN-CONTROLLED LlQUlDr-DISPENSING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,395, dated August 12, 1890.

Application filed March l, 1890. Serial No. 342,252. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, ROBERT I-I. LITTLE, re siding at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Liquid-Dispensing Apparatus, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specication.

My present invention, while applicable so far as various of its featuresl are concerned to the controlling of lock or valve mechanism for a variety of purposes, has relation more especially to apparatus designed to automatically vend or measure liquids, such as mineral water or the like.

One main feature of my invention consists in providing a runway for the coin, of such length that the passage of the coin down this runway shall determine the period of time during' which the liquid will be permitted to flow from the receptacle or during which any locked receptacle will be allowed to remain iii-unlocked condition. -Ancillary to this feature of invention a further feature of invention is the provision of ashifting or releasing device adjacent the beginning of the runway, and 'a restoring or closing device adjacent the end of the runway, these devices being operated by the coin and serving, respectively, to shift or open the valve or analogous adj unctive partat the beginning of the travel of the coin and to restore or close the valve or part at the end of its travel.

Another feature of my present invention is the elnployment of a tloat for sustaining' one end of a pipe that connects with the discharge-spout of the liquid-receptacle, so that the flow of the liquid will be uniform irrespective ofthe height of the column of liquid within the receptacle. In this connect-ion, also, my invention consists in mounting upon the float a suitable valve for controlling the flow of liquid, and furthermore in providing the valve or adjacent part of the pipe with a vent leading to a point above the liquid, so that when the valve is closed the entire contents of the pipe will be allowed to drain away.

My invention also consists in the combination, with a suitable runway for the coin, of an electrical switch or circuit-controlling mechanism adapted to be operated by the coin at the beginning of its travel to release .the valve or operate some analogous mechanism, and aboutthe close of its travel to again change the condition of the current in order to close the valve. In this connection, also, my invention consists in providing a switch so arranged that it shall be moved in one direction by the coin at the beginning of its travel, and shall be moved in the opposite' direction by the coin about the end 0f its travel.

My invention further consists in providing an electro-magnet for operating the valve, whereby the iiow of liquid is determined, said magnet being provided with suitable wires or connections leading to the circuit-controlling mechanism adjacent the runway for the coin, so that the passage of current through. the magnet can be determined by the coin at f the beginning and end of its travel, in order to control the flow of liquid from the receptacle.

My invention finally consists in the various novel features of construction hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the view in side elevation, showing the upper endof the runway and adjacent parts.

The receptacle is preferably provided with a base A of size adapted to receive a battery B for supplying electrical current,.by which is effected the operation of the valve that controls the iiow of liquid from the receptacle. Upon this base A is mounted a receptacle C for the liquid to be vended or dispensed, this receptacle being preferably formed by the inner and outer concentric walls c and c', and being provided at its bottom with a discharge-spout C', through which the liquid may be delivered into a suitable cup or glass, sustained upon a bracket D, from which a drain-pipe d will lead to the drain-pipe e, whereby the drip-water is conducted from the melting` ice within the central ice-tank E. Tithin the receptacle C is placed a ioat F, of cork or other buoyant material, this float serving to sustain one end of a discharge-pipe G, the opposite end of which is connected to the discharge-spout C', this pipe G being flexible either by reason of its material (which may be rubber) or suitable joints, so that it can rise and fall with the float, and can always conduct the water from a point beneath the float. By thus providing a float for sustaining one end of the dischargepipe, the iiow of liquid through the pipe and from the spout C' of the receptacle will always be uniform, since this iiow will be unaffected by the height of the column of liquid within the receptacle. This feature of mounting a discharge-pipe upon a iioat will, l -believe, be found applicable to use in other situations, but will be greatly advantageous in connection with receptacles for dispensing liquids in measured quantities, since a difficulty encountered with this class of receptacles is that when the tank is full the force of the liquid will cause a much larger discharge within a given time than Will occur 'when the quantity of liquid within the tank has been materially diminished. The pipe G is provided with a valve l-I, the stem /L of which passes through an opening in the float of sufiicient size to permit the necessary movement of the valve. This valve Il or the adjacent part of the discharge-pipe is by preference furnished with a relief-pipe or vent extending to a point above the surface of the liquid, so that after the valve has been closed the discharge-pipe will be drained of its contents.

`In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the valve His operated by an electromagnet I, sustained upon the float, a bracket 2 being also `mounted upon the iioat and serv-` ing to pivotally sustain, as at 3, the upper end of the stem 7i of the valve. This stem h will also be provided with an armature z', adapted to be attracted by the magnet, and lto this stem will also be connected a spring 4, J[he opposite end of which ispreferably joined to an adjusting-screw 5, passing through a correspondingly-threaded opening in the bracket 6 upon the i'ioat. From the magnet I lead suitable wires S and 9, thatA serve to connect the magnet with the battery B and with suitable Circuit-controlling devices adjacent to the runway K for the coin. This runway K is suitably inclined, so as to permit the easy travel of the coin down it, and is of such length that the time occupied by the coin in passing down the runway shall determine the time during which the valve Il shall be opened when the runway is employed in connection with a liquid-vending apparatus and consequently the amount of liquid that shall be discharged from the receptacle. The runway K may consist of the double plates shown, or of a single plate bent to proper form.

lVhen my invention is used in connection with a liquid-vending apparatus, I prefer to mount the runway K upon the exterior of the tank and to extend it around the periphery ofthe tank, so that a proper length can be given to the runway. In order to enable the magnet l to control the movement of the valve H, I prefer that the shifting or releasing mechanism adjacentthebeginning of the runway shall consist of a movable switch L, carried at one end of a bar L', that is pivoted upon the post l0, one end Z of this bar being provided with an extended portion or receptacle adapted to receive the coin as it passes from the chute M in the side of thecasing. This chute M has preferably a glass front m and an inclined bottom m', the front serving to permit the passage of the coin to be seen, while the inclined bottom insures the drop ping of the coin into the pocket or receptacle upon the end Z of the pivoted bar L', and when a coin has been deposited into the chute M and has passed thence into the pocket of the bar L', this bar will rock downwardabout its pivot-point, so as to deliver the coin into the beginning of the runway K. The switch L is by preference adj uslably held by a setscrew Il upon the end of a bar L', andthe upper end or tongue of the switch will ride upon a metallic connection, that is united to the binding-post 18, to which will be connected the end of the wire 8, that forms-part of the circuit. Adjacent the bottoni of the runway K is mounted a restoring or closing device, preferably in the form of a movable plate O, pivoted, as at o, and connected by means of a suitable cord or wire 14 with the bar L', that carries the movable `switch L. The plate O is of siich Weight as to counterbalance the bar L', and consequently `whena coin, having passed down the runwayK, drops upon the plate O, it will cause this plate `to move, and by reason of its connection lat with the bar L' will cause the switch L to be drawn away from the contact-plate l2, and will consequen tly break thc passage of current through the wires 8 and 9 and the inagnetK.

In Fig. l of the drawings the parts are shown in their normal position, and at .such time the valve ll will be closed, so as to'prevent the How of water through the dischargepipe G. If,now, however, a coin of proper denomination and weight be placed in-the chute M it will fall thence upon the end Z 0f IOO the bar Lf, causing this bar to rock until the switch L passes onto the contact-plate 12and` establishes the flow of current through the wires 8 and 9 and magnet I, thereby energizing the magnet and causing it to attract the armature t, that is attached to the stem h of the valve to permit the iiow of liquid through the discharge-pipe G and faucet C. As the switch L is thus brought to bear upon the contact-plate l2 by the rocking of the bar L', the plate O at the end of the runway is lifted, and the switch L will remain closedl during the time that the coin is passing down the runway and until .it drops upon the plate O, when the weight of the coin upon the plate will cause this plate to move downward, and by reason of the connection 14 will cause Athe bar L to rock about its pivot-point and draw the switch L from off the contact-plate 12. Hence it will be seen that so long as the coin is traversing the runway the passage of current through the magnet I will continue, causing this magnet to attract its armature t',

and consequently hold open the valve H un` til the circuit through the wires 8 and 9 and the magnet I is broken by the shifting of the switch L, in manner just described. Vhenv 7 suitable receptacle (not shown) that will be provided for the purpose..

A further advantage incident toy sustaining the end of the discharge-pipe by a oat is that the vvalve of this pipe is thereby relieved from the great pressure of the column of liquid to which it would be subjected if located at the bottom of the tank. This is a feature of importance, because it enables an electro magnet or other valve-operating mechanism to much more readily control the movement of the valve.

The details of construction above set out maybevaried within wide limits withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention. Thus, for example, any well-known or suitable circuit making and breaking mechanism may be employed for .causing the energization and (le-energization of the magnet in lieu of the specic form of switch shown. For instance, the making and breaking of the circuit may be caused by completing the circuit through the medium of the metal coin itself, although I regard the use of a switch as preferable. Se, also, features of the invention may be used without its adoption as an entirety. For example, ,the runway will be found of advantage whether the releasing and restoring mechanism at the ends thereof serve to operate a valve or other device, and whether the valve or like device be operated mechanically or by an electric current.

AThe electro-magnet and its connections may be used advantageously in conjunction with other types of valvesthan that shown, whether fixedly or movably sustained, and the iioat for the discharge-pipe may be employed without regard yto the mechanism whereby its valve is operated.

I do not wish the term coin-controlled apparatus herein used to be regarded as a term of limitation, since obviously the apparatus might be operated by checks instead of coins, or in case the apparatus is to be used in measuring'or tallying liquids, balls might be used instead of coins, the contour of the runway being varied accordingly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1.-In apparatus of the type described, the combination of a runway for coins or similar articles, a shifting or :releasing device adjacent the beginning of said runway, anda restoring device adjacent the end of said run' way, substantially as described.

2. In apparatus of the type described, the combination, with a device such, for example, as a valve lto be controlled, of a runway for the coin or like article, suitable means adjacent the beginning of said runway where- Y by the movement of said device 'from its normal position may be effected bythe coin,and suitable means adjacent the end of said run-` way adapted to be moved by the coin to restore said device to its normal position, substantially as described.

3. In apparatus of the type described, the combination, with a tank and a valve for determinin g the iiow of liquid from said'tank, of a long runway for the coin, and mechan# ism for controlling the movements of said valve located adjacent the beginning and end of the runway and adapted to be actuated by the coin, whereby the time occupied by the passage of the coin down the runway shall determine the time during which liquid will be allowed to flow from the tank, substantially as described.

4. In apparatus of the type described, the combination of a long runway for the coin or similar article, a shifting or releasing device adjacent the beginning of said runway, and a restoring device adjacent the end of said runway, said releasing and restoring devices being' suitably connected together, substantially as described.

5. In apparatus of the type described, the combination of a runway for thecoin or like article, an electrical switch or circuit-control ling mechanism adjacent the beginning of said runway, and a suitable means adjacent the end of saidrunway for controlling said circuit, and a suitable device-suela for eX- ample, as a valve-adapted to be operated by the'passage of current through: the circuit,`

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in which said switch or circuit-controlling mechanism is interposed, substantially as described.

6. In apparatus of the type described, the combination of a runway for the coin or like article, an electrical switch or circuit-controlling mechanism adjacent the beginning of said runway, and a circuit-controlling mechanism adjacent the end of said runway, an electro-magnet connected with said switch, a suitable discharge-pipe, and a valve operated by said magnet to control the ow of liquid through said pipe, substantially as described.

7. In apparatus of the type described, the combination, with a runway for the coin or like article, of an electrical switch located adjacent thc beginning of said runway, a movable bar for controlling the position of said switch and arranged to receive the impact of the coin, a circuit-controlling mechanism adjacent to the end of the runway, consisting o'l a movable plate arranged in position to reccive the impact of the coin, and a connection between said plate and the switch, substantially as described.

8. In apparatus of the type described, the combination of a runway for the coin or sim ilar article, a suitable tank, a valve and discharge-pipe for controlling the flow of liquid from said tank, an `electro-magnet 4for oper ating said valve, a switch electrically connected with said electro-magnet, a pivotedbar I to which said switch is attached located adjacent the beginning of said runway, and a` restoringplate connected with said .pivoted` ing to a point abovethe surface ot' the liquid,-

substantially as described.

11. The combination, with a tank, of a discharge-pipe, a float forsustainingone end of said pipe, a valve mounted upon said float for controlling said pipe, an electro-magnet foroperating said valve, a runway for the coin, and a circuit-controlling mechanism lo-` cated adjacent the beginning of the runway, and a circuit-controlling `mechanism located ad j accnt the end of the runway, substantial] y as described.

12. The combination,with a tank having a discharge-pipe, of a float for sustaining one end of said ydischarge-pipe, a Valve for said `discharge-pipe, a runway for the coin, and

Valve-operating mechanism located adjacent the beginnii'ig and end of said runway, and suitably connected with the valve of thedischarge-pipe, substantiallyas described.

ROBERT I'I. LITTLE. Vitnesses:

T. 1B. CARPENTER, GEO. P. vlussen, Jr. 

